This consists of a number of separate conveyors on which pallet loads are placed in the order in which they arrive. Each line holds only one type of item. Stores are loaded into the racking at one end and removed from the other. The system works well where enough items suitable for such a system are held. However, the system is inflexible and occupies the same amount of space whether filled to capacity or not. Since in these systems lines tend to be the same length, economic use of them depends upon the warehouse being able to control the economic quantity so that it roughly matches the accommodation available - a most unusual state of affairs. Care must be exercised in carrying out the feasibility study which considers this type of storage to make sure that it does not become an expensive white elephant. It has the advantage that, if it is fully used, it solves the problem of stock turnover while providing a reasonable concentration of stores on the floor. The system is illustrated below.
